Highly valued for its robustness and optimal heat distribution across the entire surface of the plate, the enameled cast iron plancha, like all planchas, requires regular maintenance and cleaning to ensure optimal cooking performance, impeccable hygiene, and, above all, to extend its lifespan. If you want to keep your appliance for several years, it is crucial to clean your plancha properly after each use.
To help you, follow our tips and tricks for effective cleaning and optimal maintenance as we guide you through the essential steps for cleaning your enameled cast iron griddle.
Steps for cleaning your plancha grill
First situation: cleaning after cooking
Step 1: scrape off any residue with the spatula.
On the hot griddle, immediately after cooking, scrape off any food residue and grease deposits with the wide stainless steel spatula and dispose of them in the juice collection tray.
Caution: never scrape residue off your griddle with a plastic or Teflon spatula! The heat from the griddle could cause your spatula to melt onto the griddle.
Step 2: scrape with the stainless steel ball
Use a stainless steel ball mounted on its holder to scrape and thoroughly clean encrusted dirt. At this stage, you can also use a little moistened Plancha Cleaner natural product to degrease the plate.
Step 3: remove any residue with paper towels.
After removing grease and dirt, the third step is to apply a special cleaner for enameled cast iron griddles. You can use Plancha Cleaner, a 100% natural product made from clay, an eco-friendly material that has long been used to clean enameled cast iron griddles. Then simply wipe away the dirt with paper towels.
Last step: wipe with a microfiber cloth.
The final step in thoroughly cleaning your hot-enameled cast iron plancha: wiping it down!
Often overlooked or done with the wrong cloth, this step is essential in cleaning your plancha to remove any cleaning product residue. Forget about tea towels or old rags; instead, use a microfiber cloth to wipe down the surface of the plancha and remove any cleaning product residue. Make sure it is clean and damp for a thorough clean.
To ensure a thorough clean, ENO has created a complete cleaning kit especially for you, allowing you to clean and maintain your plancha in the best possible way!
If you want to see the steps for cleaning an enameled cast iron griddle, follow our tutorial!
Find our tutorial just below!
Second situation: cleaning your griddle between two cooking sessions
One of the other major advantages of enameled cast iron over stainless steel and steel is that it allows you to cook multiple dishes in quick succession, as enamel does not retain odors and is easy to clean. This means you can cook an entire meal, from starter to dessert, on the same pan, simply cleaning it quickly between dishes.
To clean it quickly, use the stainless steel ball and its holder to scrape off any juices. This will be enough to get your griddle clean in no time, so you can get back to cooking quickly.
Because you can never have too many demonstration tutorials, we have also created a tutorial on how to clean your griddle between uses.
Cleaning the other parts of the griddle
The frame
To clean the frame of your plancha, simply use a microfiber cloth with a little soapy water.
Caution: for stainless steel models, never use a sponge, especially the green part! As it contains sand, it will scratch your stainless steel frame and cause your appliance to rust prematurely.
The grease trap
To clean the grease tray:
- on Initial and Fusion models: pull out your grease tray. Then empty the cooking juices and place your grease tray in the dishwasher.
- on Enosign models: press on the tray to pull it out. Empty the cooking juices and place your grease tray in the dishwasher.
Our tips for effective cleaning and maintenance
Clean your griddle immediately after use!
Don't wait to clean your plancha! We recommend cleaning your plancha immediately after use, so that cleaning is quick and easy. To do this, make sure you have a container of water and the necessary utensils for cleaning your plancha plate (cloth, stainless steel scouring pad, plancha cleaner, etc.) nearby.
Cleaning a cold griddle plate
If you cannot clean the griddle immediately after use, all you need to do is turn it back on and let it heat up a little so that you can scrape off any food residue (always using a wide spatula).
Turn it off and then clean it following the four steps described above for cleaning after cooking.
To have everything you need at your fingertips, ENO offers a special cleaning kit that includes everything you need, from utensils to products, to thoroughly clean your griddle: stainless steel ball and stainless steel ball holder, Plancha Cleaner, microfiber cloth.
Maintain your plancha by protecting it!
To maintain your plancha and ensure its longevity, it is also essential to protect it with a cover or protective hood. Eno offers a wide range of covers and hoods suitable for every plancha: your plancha will be protected from dust, dirt, and bad weather, so it will always be ready to use.
In summary
Cleaning an enameled cast iron griddle may seem like a daunting task, but with the right techniques and products, it's actually quite simple and quick. Regular and proper cleaning is essential to keep your enameled cast iron griddle clean and in good working order.
By following the steps outlined in this article and taking the time to regularly maintain your griddle with the right products, you can be sure of preparing delicious meals every time you use it, while also extending its lifespan. Don't forget to protect it with a cover or lid to keep it clean even when you're not using it for a long time.
